Don't do it!

I now know why I lose my sewing mojo when reading some Pattern Review postings and some blogs posts.

So many of us home garment sewists are TOTAL BUMMERS sometimes!!! (I include myself) A lot of times we are so self-deprecating in judging/assessing our sewing skills, our bodies, our age. Then we blame that on the pattern companies have too much of this and too little of that to meet our needs.

We constantly point out the "negative" aspects of our bodies, the bad pattern drafting and bad design. We need a resolution.

We talk all this $#!t whenever new patterns come out, but we still patronize the pattern companies, giving them our good hard earned money - most of us, anyway (ok mostly me). But I think this kind of talk also discourages new sewers, which in turn discourages the industry - all those great fabric shops closing.

NO MORE NEGATIVITY LADIES!!!

The young, thin, even-proportioned "standard" does not apply to the majority of the population so that should actually EMPOWER us.
We sewists actually have an advantage because we have the tools to alter and customize our garments. and if we are unsatisfied with our bodies we can alter and customize those too!

**We have the ability to look good no matter what our bodies look like**

1. Let's use the patterns as a template to get the look we want. Yes, their instructions suck, the drafting is different from our figures, but we have a bunch of books, Internet resources and measuring tapes to help get us where we want to be.
   
2. Let's use the fashion trends of the moment as inspiration to get the look we want. Even the weird ones.
3. Let's use the knowledge that has been put out there to learn how to make things that fit & flatter your shape.
4. Let's keep the encouragement & compliments flowing!
   

TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS:

1. RTW uses most of the same techniques as home sewers, so most RTW looks the same as "home sewn."
   
2. You do NOT look pregnant. I know the difference now.
3. Being plus size is NOT a disadvantage to style. Carolyn should write a book, or have her own TV show, forget Tim Gunn & Lloyd Boston, I have NEVER seen a real plus size person on their shows. She KNOWS her body and KNOWS what she likes and KNOWS how to combine those two to create an awesome wardrobe. She inspires all sizes and that's what matters.
   
4. Broad shoulders are beautiful (Adrienne you crack me up), and so are narrow shoulders, and big bootays and noassatalls....OK. I could go on... You get it. Don't discredit those features. When something doesn't fit right. Just focus on finding a way to make it work and then celebrate! (& show us how you did it)
   
5. Nobody is paying attention to every little wrinkle in you garment, EVEN WHEN YOU POINT IT OUT, WE STILL CAN'T TELL!! Of course if something doesn't "feel" right or if a body part is on the verge of busting out of the fabric by all means fix it, but you are really being a downer pointing out every wrinkle & crease when most of the people who are checking you out think your garment is beautifully made.